Thursday, September 30, 2010

Rock n Roll Fridays MEME: SMASHING PUMPKINS

I love this band and had a crush on Billy Corgan, the lead singer for years...great lyrics. 
Today we picked Smashing Pumpkins. Here's Rock 'n Roll Fridays! 

1. 1979 “Shakedown 1979, Cool kids never have the time. On a live wire right up off the street, You and I should meet”. 
Where were you in 1979?
St Petersburg, Florida, taking college courses for private investigation and forensic studies. I would soon move back to New England.  I took a job as a private investigator for a company that specialized in store shopping-(testing security systems). Hated it and never pursued my forensic studies because of the experience. Now, watching shows like BONES and NCIS and CSI, I wish I'd stayed in it.

2. BELIEVE “And if they steal your life, your heart is still mine. Your song, you sing, a truth, there’s no other. I want to believe in you dear.”
What song do you love to sing along with?
Most female vocal stuff (in the car, alone) like Fleetwood Mac's Rhiannon, Lulu's TO SIR WITH LOVE, and Earth Wind & Fire's REASONS. Phil Bailey had a great upper range.

3. BULLIT WITH BUTTERFLY WINGS “Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage. Someone will say what is lost can never be saved. Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage”. 
When was the last time you felt like a rat in a cage?
In the Rhode Island Building at the BIG E Fair...it was VERY very crowded.

4. CHRISTMASTIME “I remember dreaming, Wishing, Hoping, Praying for this day. Now I sit and watch them, the little ones I love”.
What day are you dreaming, wishing, hoping, praying for?
The day I can turn to Bud and say "Isn't it great that I won the Lotto this week?!"

5. DISARM “I used to be a little boy, so old in my shoes. And what I choose is my voice. What’s a boy supposed to do?” 
What did you bring to SHOW n TELL as a child to school?
I had a large white stuffed dog with spots and a goofy face I absolutely loved. I would get nervous as the kids passed him around after my "talk". I treated the dog like it was a live friend. It still resides at my father's house in the attic.

6. THIRTY THREE “Supper’s waiting on the table. Tomorrow’s just an excuse away. So I pull my collar up and face the cold, on my own. The Earth laughs beneath my heavy feet.”
When and where do you generally eat supper?
We do not have a dining room at the BudmanCave and tend to eat supper hunched over the coffeetable somewhere between 6:30 and 8pm most evenings. Drinking and carrying on transpires the rest of the evening, but only after Bud see's his ding ding sports show.

7. TODAY “To cleanse these regrets, my angel wings were bruised and restrained. My belly stings."
When was the last time your belly “stung”?
After a heavy duty beef n noodle n gravy "comfort food" meal I made the other night. Talk about feeling like a blob. Can you say "BURP?!"

8. TONIGHT TONIGHT “Time is never time at all, you can never ever leave, without leaving a piece of youth. And our lives are forever changed. We will never be the same. The more you change the less you feel.”
Despite the number, what age do you think you really are?
Somewhere around 30. Too bad I was not as worldly at 30, and I had a great body...now, ummm...err....life hands you a cruel reality sometimes.

9. APPELS AND ORANJES What if the sun refused to shine? What if the clouds refused to rain? What if the wind refused to blow? What if the seas refused to wave? What if the world refused it’s turn?”
Do you believe the 2012 catastrophe will happen? If so, how are you preparing for it?t?
I do not live in fear or partake in paranoias. I believe scientific research is important and will mildly prepare if they feel it is a real threat and give us a little warning.  I don't believe my chances of surviving will depend on survivalist training, owning a gun, or 10 years of food inventory stored in the basement. I'm not digging a sealed underground living unit either, so I guess I kiss my arse goodbye when the north pole moves to Florida.

10. CHERRY Stay with me, I’ll set you free. ‘Cause I can tell you once were pretty. Rose, so sad you’ve lost your petals. Lost the luster off your tattle tales.”
What celebrity has not aged well?
Any 1960s rock star or group member except that hunky John from Steppenwolf, Smokey Robinson and Ringo. 

11. CRESTFALLEN Who am I to you? Along the way, I lost my faith. And as you were, you’ll be again. To mold like clay, to break like dirt. To tear me up in your sympathy.”
What was the last thing you made out of dirt or clay?
I used to be involved with craft shows, bazaars and church fairs. I baked Sculpy clay into seasonal shapes for grandma pins, and I made ornaments out of all kinds of things, like silver-sprayed pinecones and made clay toppers for them.

 12. EYE Is it any wonder I found peace through you? Turn to the gates of heaven, to myself be damned. Turn away from eye, it’s not enough, just a touch.”
How do you find peace?
Music ALWAYS will be my soundtrack of salvation.

13. MA BELLE “You must hold your truce alone. To make love happen, the moon must send you home. There’s no place that I’d rather be”.
When was the last time you walked in the moonlight?
The other night, tho it was a brief trek from the house to the car with Bud. Full moon on the Autuminal Equinox. Aces!....Hey wait...isn't this song title the name of one of Bud's French Twins?! Wonder if he will notice that...hmmm.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Thursday Thunks MEME: Stupid Questions By Kimber

The TT questions are brought to you by Kimber, the color of absolute black granite and the number 16.


101. When was the last time you went to the doctor? Do you like your doctor?
About 3 years ago...have not had insurance. Love her. She is not into prescriptions and is very New Age.


201. My back is itching, will you scratch it for me?
Eeeooowww...


301. Do you have nice handwriting?
Yep, unless I am in a hurry or filling out a job application.


401. We are sending you to either New Zealand or Canada, which one do you choose?
New Zealand. I have 4 nieces and nephews there. My brother lives in nearby Australia.


501. Do you sing in the shower?
No but I do lots of other interesting things.


601. Have you ever been streaking? If so, how far did you streak and did anyone see you?
No, well not in public.


701. How soon is too soon for Christmas decorations and music playing in the stores?
Anytime before Nov 15th. Except for craft stores...you have to make stuff well in advance dontchaknow.


801. If you celebrated Halloween as a kid what was the costume you wore at 5?
Probably one of those horrid boxed store-bought things...highly flammable with a sweaty plastic mask with plenty of cancer causing chemistry coating. I celebrate Samhain now, so Halloween hits a sour note in some aspects.


901. How many cavities have you had in your life?
Still makin' them. Lost count. Hate going. Usually now it's just to get them pulled out. I love Larry the Cable Guy's comment about teeth. "We got us a super WalMart here...it's got a dentist, and an Express Lane - for people with 15 teeth or less!"


1001. Berleen and Bud come to Arizona to visit Kimber. Who do you think will decide it's too hot here first?
If Bud doesn't get into A/C he will be returning to New England on the next plane.


1101. Who do you think will ask TT questions next week?
Bud will pounce on it if Ber and Kimber are more than 3 minutes late with their posting.

WEDNESDAY WICKEDNESS meme: PAUL McCARTNEY

Today we picked Paul McCartney. Here's Wednesday Wickedness!

1. “George wrote Taxman, and I played guitar on it. He wrote it in anger at finding out what the taxman did. He had never known before then what could happen to your money.” No one likes paying taxes. But do you think the tax system is fair?
I hate taxes, but I understand they are needed to help fund stuff. My gripe is that I'd love to delegate WHERE my taxes are spent. 

2. “I definitely did look up to John. We all looked up to John. He was older and he was very much the leader; he was the quickest wit and the smartest.”What did you think of John Lennon?
He was a smarta$$ and he was crazy in love with a woman later in life. He died too young and we lost a true musical and social legend.

3. “I saw that Meryl Streep said, I just want to do my job well. And really, that's all I'm ever trying to do.” How do you approach your job whether in the workplace or at home?
With GUSTO!

4. “I used to think anyone doing anything weird was weird. Now I know that it is the people that call others weird that are weird.” Have you found that you have more tolerance for unusual people as you get older?
I AM more unusual as I get older!

5. “I don't take me seriously. If we get some giggles, I don't mind.” How seriously do you take yourself?
Too...

6. “I think people who create and write, it actually does flow-just flows from into their head, into their hand, and they write it down. It's simple.” Does your blog writing just flow from your head, or is it a lot of effort?
Flows from me brain-o...

7. “Think globally, act locally.” Do you do anything to help your local community?
I smile and speak to everyone and say hello if someone says it to me. Everyone is valid. Some people get ignored, like homeless or down n outs...I like the idea of being a positive point in someone's day. That is direct community service. I have volunteered for senior events when I lived in England. I assisted a blind lady weekly with her shopping and bill paying when I lived in L.A. I donate all out of season clothes to the goodwill bins.

8. “When you first get money, you buy all these things so no one thinks you're mean, and you spread it around. You get a chauffeur and you find yourself thrown around the back of this car and you think, I was happier when I had my own little car! I could drive myself!” Have you ever had a period where you felt that you were set financially?
Yep. When I was a high end bartender in L.A. at a caviar bar. I made hundreds a night in tips and lived quite the life...too bad I got all caught up in the "life" and wound up driving my little car back to New England with everything (left) I owned in the back...totally broke.

9. “Lyricists play with words.” Do you think what you write on your blog is clever or just ordinary and why?
Ordinary for me...

10. “Where I come from, you don't really talk about how much you're earning. Those things are private. My dad never told my mum how much he was earning. I'm certainly not going to tell the world. I'm doing well.” Who in your circle knows how much money your family makes?
My family?! My family doesn't even know what we make! Bud knows my income only because I live with him and whine about needing more. ;-)

MUFFED TARGET # 13 Meme: Odd Photo Meme

Welcome to the The Muffed Target. 
This is THOM's meme. Each Tuesday post a picture which is completely crazy, messed up, with nothing on etc, which normally you would immediately delete. It can be everything, like only shoes instead of the whole person, a blurred building or whatever you want. Then tell us the little story how it happened and what it should have been. Make sure you link by your post by signing inlinkz below. 


Um...THOM...this meme is a stretch, but here goes.


I am a photog and a music nut, so anything NOT picture-perfect DOES get deleted. Taken at a county fair last year, I thought I would get an artistic and humorous shot of cows. There is a PINK FLOYD album called ATOM HEART MOTHER that features cows on the cover...thought I'd do something similar...


As I was taking this photo, I unknowingly stepped in a pile of crap and proceeded to spread it to my car mat, my kitchen floor and my livingroom rug before realizing the "smell" was not just the super size fried dough I had partaken of earlier...


That's the rest of the story...good day!
;-)

Monday, September 27, 2010

MONDAY MAYHEM merme: TEN ANYONE?

Monday Mayhem - #40 ~ Ten Anyone? Meme


1. Why do you blog?
It validates me.



2. Name your three best memories.
Too many, but...Disco nights, Getting the job, Spending a large bonus...come to mind...


3. Name 4 of the best fiction books you've read.
R.A.P.E. of the A.P.E. by Alan Sherman, CLASS by Jilly Cooper, BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley and THE EGG AND I by Betty MacDonald.


4. What are the 5 best movies ever made? (and that I love....)
16 Candles
The Egg & I
Pillow Talk
Best In Show
If It's Tuesday This Must Be Belgium


5. Name 5 things I can't live without.
You?
Memes, Dogs, Kids, Food, Shelter
Me?
Electricity, Job, Computer, Sleep, Music


6. If you could change your name what would it be?
I did change my name. I legally changed it to Kathryn from Kathy. (After Kathryn Janeway on Star Trek).


7. Tell us a unique and interesting fact about yourself.
I enlisted in the ARMY at 18.


8. What do you love best about yourself?
Sense of humor and creativity.


9. If you had a "Freaky Friday" experience, who would you change places with?
Someone young, pretty and in good health. I'll take care of the rest.


10. What is the best thing about being a woman.
The plumbing is certainly NOT (i.e. menstruation, menopause, childbirth, etc). Intuition is cool. Ability to multi-task. Being sexual with a man. Hitting the high notes. The power...

Saturday, September 25, 2010

SUNDAY STEALING meme: I've Been Tagged


Sunday Stealing: The "I've Been Tagged" Meme


1. Where are you from?
Originally Groton, CT near Mystic Seaport and New London. Grew up a hop skip and jump from Pfizer chemical plant...the air stunk and there were an unusually high amount of cancer and tumor-related deaths in our neighborhood...including my mother. I remember orange "stuff" on the laundry she used to hang outside on the line. Had to re-wash clothes many times over the course of my 17 years there.

2. If you could live any place in the world, where would you live?
I don't know yet.

3. What's your favorite blog? I'll check them out of course!
No favs. I enjoy reading different ones for different reasons. Bud got me into this meme stuff, but it's so new, I have not seen many. I wrote 2 blogs before my DJ KathyA Korner blog (which is all memes) and they were regular subjects.

4. What is your biggest blogging pet peeve?
The editing system changes daily and is not user-friendly for graphics and changes.

5. What's your favorite TV show this season? I need a new show! :)
Still watching. I love House, Bones, Lie To Me, and am going to watch Outsourced on Bud's TIVO from the other night.

6. What's your favorite 'down' time {nothing computer related}?
Day trips and photography...and music.

7. Are you a parent? If so, what's your favorite thing to do with your children?
Not a breeder and proud of that.

8. What about your blog, have you considered changing?
Ummm...it's new, so I may, but no immediate plans.

9. What do you do for a living (if you work outside the home or if you work at home)?
I work in customer service for a company that deals with school fundraisers. I get to view children's art all day, which is kinda cool.

10. What is your favorite song at the moment? What is your favorite song ever?
Oh geez...I love so many. I think CIVIL TWILIGHT's "LETTERS FROM THE SKY" is my current favorite. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wa7dFR09vU
My alltime favorite hands down is:  "Always and Forever".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDmMf0533fc

11. What is your favorite niche TV channel to watch?
Niche? My how sophisticated Sir.  Channels...hmmm...I like Sci Fi and HGTV and Bravo and FOX...generally redecorating shows and crime dramas.

12. If you could have any career, what would it be and why?
I went to school originally thinking I would be a musician, but also took courses that would help me become a forensic scientist, like Bones. That never came to be.

13. What is your favorite outfit?
Of all time? As an outfit, my ex-wedding ensemble was my favorite. I felt like a princess. I remember going to my parents house before the wedding to "visit" my veil. lol

14. If you could tell your teenage self something, what would you say?
Straighten up and fly right...lol. Better yet, "Pay more attention to that DJ at the Dialtone....you will be living with him in 35 years"

15. What is your biggest blog pet peeve?
Again you ask? C'Mon...wake up johnny...

16. What is your favorite recipe?
Oy vey...I've got a million of 'em!  I make a terrific "coronary alert" pound cake...also great cookies and banana bread. Anyone wants a recipe just ask...but I cannot select just ONE. Me oh my. 

17. What is the funniest joke you've ever heard?
Three guys in a boat...and this cartoon:



18. What is your favorite vacation spot and why?
Bed. It's the greatest getaway one can have...

19. What are you most excited about with fall here?
LEAVES! New England is breathtaking in Autumn. Also, I make apple butter in the crock pot...yummy smell in the house!

20. Did you envision yourself to be where you are today ten years ago? If not, what did you envision?
I was at the tail end of a bad marriage and would never have imagined I would find a cool guy to live with 10 years later. I envisioned a ball and chain life...thankfully I got the courage to divorce the following year.

21. If money were no object, what would your dream house look like?
Super large ranch in the countryside with a terrific view,  servants and lawncare.

22. What is your all-time favorite Disney movie?
As a kid I liked the cartoons...as an adult, I like the Haley Mills ones.

23. What's your favorite blog to read? Or a blog you think isn't getting enough notice?
No favs...again...I just answered this somewhere else in this meme. Geesh... you hungover my friend?

Thank you for playing this week on Sunday Stealing! 

SATURDAY 9 meme: Just Like Me

Saturday 9: Just Like Me

1. Who in your life do you think behaves and thinks the most like you do?
Absolutely no one.

2. As a kid, were you ever wrongly accused (and punished, if it went that far) for something you didn't do? If so, what was it? What happened?
Yes, a stranger must have keyed my mother's car side door when I was 7 or 8, but she insisted I did it and wanted me to tell her what I used to scratch it with. She made me go to my room to "Think about it" and not come out until I could tell her "what really happened". I wanted to go outside and play so badly (in those days, kids liked to play outside without technology) that I lied and said I did it with a rock and would never do it again. She let me go play outside, after scolding me on how bad I was. I never should have done it because up until we got another car,  when we would go somewhere, she often would remind me how "I ruined her car".

3. What about as an adult, were you ever wrongly accused for something you didn't do?? Do you think it's worse to be accused as a child or an adult? Why/why not?
At work. I was accused of telling someone a secret about one of the supervisors. I had not, but the supervisor read me the riot act. I am no longer at that job, but it bothers me still.

3. What’s the scariest weather situation you’ve experienced?
I was driving in Florida when a serious rainstorm flash-flooded the street I was on. The water rose so quickly, it was up to my door level and I could not see out the front windshield to drive on, so I stopped.  The rain stopped, but not before I had visions of climbing out the window to sit on the roof!

4. If you could wake up tomorrow morning in another country, where would you want to be and why?
England or Belgium. Both are beautiful and interesting places.


5. Instead of going to work Monday, if you could spend the entire day doing something else--any one or two things that you absolutely love doing--what would you do?
This time of year...drive around to farm stands and orchards. Taking pictures.

6. What sites (other than meme sites) do you use most to help you post on your blog?
Huh? I never used memes prior to meeting Bud...my blogs were about the 2 airedale dogs I worked with at the Inn and my travels in the Berkshires. I used google for images for special effects composition photos of the dogs.


 7. Check out a post on your blog from six months ago (March 2010) and tell us what is different now about your blog and/or life?
My March posts were about my life in the Berkshires and about the two Airedale terrier dogs I worked with at the Inn...I met Bud on the 18th of March ...and here I am, living with him in a completely different place in a completely different life. 
I no longer do the Airedale terrier or Berkshire travel blogs.  : (

8. What was the last photograph you took?
At the BIG E Fair...probably of Bud. He's camera shy you know...

9. Which fashion trend do you believe is the most horrendous and why?
The appeal of really expensive handbags...and extreme Couture annoys me. I appreciate that it's art, of course...but the 'tude these people display towards mundane regular people in street clothes is vicious, and spending $500+ on a silly handbag is just ridiculous.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Rock n Roll Fridays MEME: BOB DYLAN

Hi I'm DJ KathyA! Welcome to Rock 'n Roll Fridays. We are like other memes in that we will ask you thirteen questions each and every Friday. But our little "twist" is that each week we will pick an singer, band, era or category and pick thirteen of their lyrics. Each of our questions will be based on the lyrics. Got it? Great! Let's begin this week's meme!


Today we picked Bob Dylan. The song titles are in bold caps and the lyrics are in bold. Here's Rock 'n Roll Fridays!

1. TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN’ “And there’s no tellin’ who that it’s namin’ for the loser now will be later to win, For the times they are a changin’”
What would you do or play at a Casino?
I love the slots, but the old school kind where you put in coins and there is one payline and you match up cherries or flags 3 in a row. Some of the new machines are so complex, they have about 10-20 paylines and confusing video images that make it so you have no idea is or how you won anything. When I am at Mohegan Sun, I like a Peach Martini up in the Sky Bar and a walk around the shops. I also enjoy their free concerts in the Wolf Den stage, which is centered in the casino. I used to work at Foxwoods and only go there to shop or stop at Hard Rock. Gambling is not fun there. I feel like a sheep being herded thru.

2. ON DESOLATION ROW “To her, death is quite romantic, She wears an iron vest. Her profession’s her religion, her sin is her lifelessness”
What was the worst job you ever had?
I've had lots so I'll go with the most recent...I worked as a matchmaker for a high-end Dating service that charged up to $10,000 per membership for someone to be matched with their ideal mate...we really just "matched" $10K people with OTHER suckers who paid $10K. We constantly got angry calls and feedback telling us how awful their dates were. I spent most of my day trying to talk people out of suing us.

3. DON’T THINK TWICE IT’S ALLRIGHT “I ain’t sayin you treated me unkind, you could have done better but I don’t mind. You just kinda wasted my precious time. Don’t think twice it’s all right”How do you waste your time besides memes?
Music, Photography, Day Trips, Baking, YouTube, and Bud.

4. IT AIN’T ME BABE “You say you’re lookin for someone, never weak but always strong. To protect you an’ defend you whether you are right or wrong. Someone to open each and every door, It ain’t me babe”What traits make up the ideal mate for you?
Comedy, Handsomeness, Attraction to me, Stable, Sexy, Conversational, Interesting, Loyal, Into Music.


 5. JUST LIKE A WOMAN “She takes just like a woman, yes she does, she makes love just like a woman, yes she does, and she aches just like a woman, but she breaks just like a little girl”
What woman would make a great president?
Oprah, Maya Angelo or Ellen Degeneres

6. KNOCKIN ON HEAVEN’S DOOR “Mama put my guns in the ground I can’t shoot them anymore, that long black cloud is comin’ down, I feel like I’m knockin’ on Heaven’s door”
Have you ever fired a rifle, handgun or other firearm?
Yep all 3. I fired a 357 magnum and 12 gauge shotgun when I was an armed guard. I fired an M-16 Rifle and M-18 Semi Automatic rifle as well as a bazooka (Law) and threw a hand grenade when in the Army.

7. LIKE A ROLLING STONE “You used to laugh about everybody that was hangin’ out, Now you don’t seem so proud, about havin’ to scrounge for your next meal”Have you ever been on Welfare (the Dole), or collected Unemployment Insurance Benefits?
I collected for the first time in my entire working life of 35 years this past year and they paid me $530 a week. It was a lifeline for several weeks and I'm grateful for it and to Pres. Obama who offered me $4000 towards a college education or trade course while I was unemployed. I really feel bad for folks who rely on it when it ends...it is devastating.

8. MAGGIE’S FARM “Everybody says she’s the brains behind Pa, She’s 68 but says she’s 24”When was the last time you lied about your age?
On Match.Com when I was cougaring and wanted to attract younger men...TMI huh?

9. MR TAMBORINE MAN “Hey Mr Tamborine Man, play a song for me, I’m not sleepy and there is no place I’m goin’ to. “
Have you ever played a musical instrument?
I played trumpet all through school and was quite good at it. I won a music award and actually auditioned and won a spot in the ARMY Band after high school...the beginning of a lot of trouble for me. I went into music from a different perspective after I got out of the Army...as a DJ. Safer and more diverse. It was my calling at the time. I did it 12 years.

10. ONE MORE CUP OF COFFEE “One more cup of coffee for the road. One more cup of coffee ‘for I go…to the valley below”
What brand of coffee do you drink and how do you take it?
I have a Keurig Coffee Machine and use K-Cups. I like Green Mountain Kona and Tully's Italian Roast and Newmans Own Special Bold K-Cups. Out in the real world, I stop at Dunkin Donuts for a medium regular with cream and 4 splenda. It is the nectar of the gods when it's fresh and strong. I would never soil my lips with Starbucks.

11. ONE TOO MANY MORNINGS “Down the street the dogs are barkin’, and the day is getting’ dark. As the night comes in a fallin, The dogs ‘ll lose their bark”When was the last time a dog barked near you?
Well, it was happy barking. I had returned recently to the Inn where I was once an innkeeper and the two dogs that lived there were so happy to see me they barked in delight, especially after I asked if they wanted to go for a walk in the woods. 

12. SUBTERRANEAN HOMESICK BLUES “Look out kid, don’t matter what you did. Walk on your tip toes, don’t try NO DOZ, better stay away from those”
When you have to stay awake what do you do when you are very sleepy?
Slap my cheeks and crank up the tunes if I am in a car. At the office, I get a candy bar or a cuppa coffee and walk a bit around the office. At home, I drink a glass of wine and grab the man...tend to go with the flow and pass out. Sleepy means your body needs sleep right?

13. TANGLED UP IN BLUE “I was layin in bed wondrin if she’d changed at all. If her hair was still red…”What color(s) has your hair been?
Let me count the ways! Bleached blonde, Red (both pink and orange hues), Auburn, Dark Brown, Strawberry Blonde, Striped, White with black tips (80s), Mohawk with black roots(80s), and dirty blond with gray roots...sigh.